Alternator or battery?? help! - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

240! · 11-21-2008, 07:21 PM

so, yesterday i took a hard turn and my battery light w/ a clicking noise from under the dash came on... one of my buddies says its a bad alternator and i wont get far driving w/ it... but i drove bout 15 miles and its fine, car didnt die didnt even show any signs of change. (the funny thing is. is when i get on the gas the clicking noise and the battery light on the cluster go off) my other buddy said its a loose connection on the alternator... im not sure what it could be... anybody have the same problem? any kinda help is great, thanks guys!

ChiSleepyEyes · 11-22-2008, 03:08 PM

only way to know is to have your battery and alternator tested. most places test both for free. make sure the alternator is at least putting out 14.00v and 30+amps. as for the battery. how long have you had it? is it tied down? is it a maintenance free battery or a liquid/fillable battery. I have been working with batteries for a long time so any question you have just ask.

nixad · 11-22-2008, 03:19 PM

change them both

ch1873857 · 11-22-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nixad

change them both

or not.

sounds like a loose connection. only way to find out is to get down there and check. if you went around a turn...the autoparts store's machine can tell you if its a loose connection. have it checked. BEFORE you go buying shit you dont need to

240! · 11-23-2008, 01:38 PM

well I took a look at the alternator today and all connections seem to be fine. But when the car us running the alternator doesnt even spin at all...

ch1873857 · 11-23-2008, 05:17 PM

um..if the car is running the alternator HAS to spin, its belt driven. is there a belt?

projectRDM · 11-23-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240!

well I took a look at the alternator today and all connections seem to be fine. But when the car us running the alternator doesnt even spin at all...

And you wonder what the problem is.

I'm at a loss for words on this one.

240! · 11-24-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch1873857

um..if the car is running the alternator HAS to spin, its belt driven. is there a belt?

Yes there is a belt on it... And its tight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectRDM

And you wonder what the problem is.

I'm at a loss for words on this one.

Hey hey hey, I just figured out it wasn't spinning after I made this thread... So I've obviously found my problem.

ChiSleepyEyes · 11-24-2008, 01:13 PM

seized alternator, we have a weiner

chetacheese · 11-24-2008, 11:28 PM

if you wanna check to see if the alternator is bad, then leave the car running, then disconnect the battery. if the car still runs, the alternator is good. if not, then its bad.

if you wanna test the battery, use a multimeter.

11-21-2008, 07:21 PM	#1
240! BANNED Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Age: 36 Posts: 321 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Alternator or battery?? help! so, yesterday i took a hard turn and my battery light w/ a clicking noise from under the dash came on... one of my buddies says its a bad alternator and i wont get far driving w/ it... but i drove bout 15 miles and its fine, car didnt die didnt even show any signs of change. (the funny thing is. is when i get on the gas the clicking noise and the battery light on the cluster go off) my other buddy said its a loose connection on the alternator... im not sure what it could be... anybody have the same problem? any kinda help is great, thanks guys!

11-22-2008, 03:08 PM	#2
ChiSleepyEyes Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago Age: 36 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	only way to know is to have your battery and alternator tested. most places test both for free. make sure the alternator is at least putting out 14.00v and 30+amps. as for the battery. how long have you had it? is it tied down? is it a maintenance free battery or a liquid/fillable battery. I have been working with batteries for a long time so any question you have just ask.

11-22-2008, 03:19 PM	#3
nixad Zilvia Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 163 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	change them both

11-23-2008, 01:38 PM	#5
240! BANNED Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Age: 36 Posts: 321 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	well I took a look at the alternator today and all connections seem to be fine. But when the car us running the alternator doesnt even spin at all...

11-23-2008, 05:17 PM	#6
ch1873857 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Andrews Air Force Base Posts: 1,906 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	um..if the car is running the alternator HAS to spin, its belt driven. is there a belt?

11-24-2008, 01:13 PM	#9
ChiSleepyEyes Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago Age: 36 Posts: 275 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	seized alternator, we have a weiner

11-24-2008, 11:28 PM	#10
chetacheese Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: in my car Posts: 752 Trader Rating: (21) Feedback Score: 21 reviews	if you wanna check to see if the alternator is bad, then leave the car running, then disconnect the battery. if the car still runs, the alternator is good. if not, then its bad. if you wanna test the battery, use a multimeter.